CSS Publishing has assembled a team of very talented and passionate professionals who truly believe in the vision for the Christian publishing company: To provide Christian pastors and congregations with tried and tested printed and online Christian Books, Sermon Books,  Sermon Resources, Children's Sermons, Lectionary Preaching Resources, Lectionary Preaching Books, Christian Stewardship Resources, Christian Education Resources, Worship Resources, Pastoral Resources, Worship Preparation Resources and other worship resources for global ministry.

Wesley T. Runk, President. Wes founded the company in 1970. He is a retired ELCA pastor. The author of more than twenty Christian books and Sermon books and has written over 5,000 children’s sermons as well as sermon resources, sermon illustrations and other sermon material. Pastor Runk is also the originator of the first children’s activity bulletin, “Gospel Grams.” He is an avid sports fan, community organizer, as well as a golf course and housing developer. Wes Runk has been married for 51 years and the father of three children; all are active in the CSS Publishing Company. He is a graduate of both Wittenberg University and the Hamma School of Theology.

David Runk has been with CSS Publishing Company (officially full time) since 1982, but is proud to tell anyone who will listen that he’s “been there from the very beginning” stuffing envelopes, inserting catalogs, and just about anything else that his father, Wes, asked of him. As an adult, David has held a variety of positions within the company from shop foreman to editorial assistant. Over the last fifteen years, David has held the post of primary estimator and sales manager of the commercial printing and Books on Demand (BOD) divisions. Three years ago, David also took the reins of Fairway Press, the self-publishing division of CSS Publishing Company.

Prior to his full-time involvement, David earned a degree in music education from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and taught both elementary and high school vocal music for one year. He continues to direct the choir at his church, which he has been doing since 1987.

David has been married to Beth since 1981 and they have three sons, Jeremy, Daniel, and Aaron. David enjoys a variety of hobbies besides music, including reading and woodworking.

Ellen Shockey, Vice President of Management. Ellen has worked at CSS full time since the summer of 1983. She has worked her way up through the ranks of the company from “fort builder”, when she and her brothers needed to find a way to entertain themselves while her parents worked, up to her current position of Vice President of Management. Ellen is a marketing specialist and is responsible for all printed advertising and catalogs of the CSS Publishing's products such as Christian books, Sermon books, Sermon resources, Lectionary Preaching resources, Lectionary worksbooks and other products. She graduated from Wittenberg University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and specialized in Reading and Kindergarten. She has been married to husband, Jeff, for 23 years and has two adult sons, Joey and Shane. She is the proud grandmother of Luc Shockey. Her hobbies include knitting, crocheting, and making jewelry. She also enjoys supporting her children in their endeavors.

Tim Runk has been part of CSS Publishing Company practically since birth, where early on he filled various roles such as trash collector (and taker outer), entertainer (singing the song "Elvira" regularly to the staff), and bookshelf sleeper (those were long days back then). After graduating from Wittenberg University and working at two different companies, Tim returned to CSS (the other companies didn't allow naps) and has filled various roles in the sales and marketing departments of CSS and it's other divisions. His primary role in the company today is director and developer of the Serrmon Suite division (www.sermonsuite.com), a sermon resource and sermon subscription service offering professional sermon content in such categories as Children’s Sermons, Lectionary Sermons, Lent and Easter Sermons, Palm Sunday Sermons, Good Friday Sermons, Sermon Illustrations and many other Sermon resources. Tim is married and has three children.

Jean G. Hines - CSS has been a big part of Jean’s life for the past 38 years. Beginning with a response to a request by Pastor Runk to open mail and write down some orders for Children's Sermon Service (CSS Plus)!, to becoming the first printer of sermon  resources, and later to become a partner with Wes Runk and Tom Lentz, it has been a real ride for Jean.

With Jean’s experience and knowledge of the company and the love that she feels for the resources that CSS provides to pastors around the world, she chose to change positions. Changing from the Executive Vice President to the telephone receptionist has kept her in the ministry of CSS. She loves what she does: she takes care of all the mental and emotional wounds of her fellow workers, keeps an eye on the front door, prepares the print orders for all Christian books and Sermon books, receives the returns from bookstores, and any other jobs that require patience and provide for continuing progress.

Patti Furr has been employed by CSS Publishing since May 1976. She began her employment in the typesetting department while attending Lima Technical College. Patti currently works as the Vice President of Accounting for CSS. She has also worked in the areas of order/customer service, accounts payables, and payroll. Her hobbies include reading, gardening, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and 5 grandchildren.

David Jordan-Squire’s work at CSS includes a variety of copywriting, editing, and marketing tasks. David is responsible for all company research. He is the editor for the SermonSuite division (www.sermonsuite.com), a sermon resource and sermon subscription service offering professional sermon content in such categories as Children’s Sermons, Lectionary Sermons, Lent and Easter Sermons, Palm Sunday Sermons, Good Friday Sermons, Sermon Illustrations and many other Sermon resources. David works closely with the writers of SermonSuite including Story Share and The Immediate Word. He is a graduate of the University of Toledo, where he studied with the distinguished composer and pianist Paul Schoenfield.

Barbara Torbert was born and raised in New Jerseywhere she graduated from high school and secretarial school. After they were married, her husband's transfers located them in Florida, Michigan, and then Ohio, where they have “retired.” They have been married 47 years and have two children and five grandchildren. Her hobbies include her grandchildren, sewing, knitting, and gardening. She and her husband have been square dancers for the past thirteen years. She has been with CSS Publishing over twenty years, mainly in the sermon resource and sermon subscriptions departments, but she also fills in for service, orders, or wherever we need her.

Missy Cotrell has worked for CSS in several different capacities over the years. She has been a part of our company for a total of eleven years. Missy has lived in California, Arizona, and Oklahoma, as well as Ohio. She studied Early Childhood Development and Business at what is now Rhodes State College. She is a very dedicated mother of three teenagers and assists her husband with his business, as well. Missy is the Fairway Director and oversees the production of each Fairway book. She also proofreads for all the CSS projects and publications and assists with the Sermon Suite division (www.sermonsuite.com), a sermon resource and sermon subscription service offering professional sermon content in such categories as Children’s Sermons, Lectionary Sermons, Lent and Easter Sermons, Palm Sunday Sermons, Good Friday Sermons, Sermon Illustrations and many other Sermon resources. Missy works closely with the writers of SermonSuite The Immediate Word (TIW), Story Share, and anything else anyone asks her to do. She is a very upbeat worker and keeps the projects running smoothly.

Sue Sonntag - Sue is one of our newer resource consultants. She is married and has four children plus two dogs. Her hobbies include genealogy, crafts, reading, crosswords, plants and gardening.